***Official*** India in West Indies

[Jono]

No need for the language though man, I know you're passsionate but its just a game.

If there is any team in world cricket that I'd like to see beating India the most, it'd be West Indies. Good to see them playing great cricket

That being said, its only day 1. Plenty of time left for anything to happen, including a 500 from Lara.

 

[Neil Pickup]

What have Sreesanth and Munaf done to deserve this ire? VRV I can understand as, well... to be honest, it's keeping my hopes of International cricket alive... but Munaf and Sreesanth bowled very well against us in India

 

[alternative]

^ LOL!!

We just can't seem to forget the chance of lara getting 500..

great bowling by WestIndies..

 

[Sanz]

Silentstriker, You are more like a Screamstriker.

 

[silentstriker]

By the same token, are the 5 batsmen good enough to score enough runs to win?

Very true, however our 'strength' if you can call it that, is our batting, so we have to rely on that. It is true that you need to take twenty wickets AND score more runs to win the game, however considering the relative quality on both sides of the ball, India need bowlers to win the match.

In the end though, I believe bowlers win games and I just don't see the quality in the Indian bowling attack to be able to cope. Can you make up quality with quantity? No, you can't. But you have to work with what you have, and five bowlers give us the best chance. Chapell admitted as much, and so I'm suprised and dissapointed that they changed back to a more defensive mentality. I can't but help think its because of the ODI series loss, and its hurt their confidence...and they want to stop losing more than they want to start winning.

Its the reverse with England. I can understand if England goes in with only four bowlers because thats where their strength lies.

Silentstriker, You are more like a Screamstriker.

I guess I am.

 

[andyc]

Wow I just noticed Pathan's not in the team. How silly. Anyway, good play by the Windies, hopefully they can keep this up throughout the series. I'm sure Steds is disappointed that Dave only got 7 overs, though.

 

[adharcric]

A solid day of cricket for the West Indies. Overall, the bowling on display was excellent. Edwards started with a mediocre delivery with subtle shape that Jaffer botched. From then onwards, Collymore and Bravo were lethal as they adhered to the off-stump line. Collymore's outswingers and legcutters undid several Indian batsmen who refused to use their feet. Bravo used an McGrath-esque approach, slowly building up the pressure with an economical spell and serving up a few beauties along the way - case in point the Kaif delivery which shaped out and then in. Yuvraj was undone by a crafty delivery from Mohammed once again and he really looked foolish getting bowled. Dravid labored to 49 and finally lost his concentration as well.

In danger of falling short of 200, Kumble and Sreesanth came to the strike and undertook some rearguard action. The standard of bowling did not drop, but the two determined late-order batsmen played circumspect innings with a few off-side drives to get the runs flowing again. Kumble was unlucky to drop one onto his stumps but he had done the job. At 235/9 at stumps, India would be disappointed but relieved that their bowlers will have something reasonable to defend tomorrow. They would look to push the resistance effort to 250 and strike early through the inexperiened pace trio. It remains to be seen whether Lara's '200 wicket' claim is accurate.

 

[Nate]

Up the Windies. Before the matct started my mate and I were commenting on how Collymore should be dynamite against the Indians, good start. Edwards always seems to be extremely unlucky when he bowls. Bravo has so much ability and discipline, I`m impressed. Ian was a bit off. And then Davo.

Collins and Taylor on the sidelines. I want a 7-man bowling attack!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Again, Dwayne Bravo is the symbol of hope for West Indies cricket.

Now some questions...

Why did Dravid choose to bat first at the ARG? Though the pitch may be different this year, it's typically flatter and flatter after day one.
Why is Ian Bradshaw playing Test cricket ahead of a fit Pedro Collins?
How has VRV Singh ever managed to score a run in FC cricket?
Did Dave Mohammed drop Sreesanth so Bravo could snare 5?

 

[superkingdave]

Did Dave Mohammed drop Sreesanth so Bravo could snare 5?

Only explanation i can see, Bravo certainly deserves it, but will Brian give him the ball first thing? could be Edwards & Collymore.

Bradshaw was obviously bowling poorly, why did he get so many overs, especially with the old ball against Sreesanth and Kumble, surely Dave could have had a few overs

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yes, Lara did seem to miss a trick with the use of Bradshaw yesterday. He gave up 83 runs for 0 wickets. Dave Mohammed only got 7 overs, took a wicket, gave up 24.

Hopefully it won't come down to 50 or so runs in the end, because those could really hurt the West Indies.

SR of 42 >>>>> SR of infinity.

 

[adharcric]

IMO the Indian team management is taking too much criticism for the selections. Giving Pathan a break was a good idea considering he got tonked by an amateur side and didn't find any rythm throughout the one-day matches either. With Pathan out, playing 5 bowlers is tough; England can play 5 because they have Flintoff, WI can do it because they have Bravo, India can do it because they have Pathan. That said, you do NOT bench someone like Harbhajan Singh who has taken so many wickets and is in good form right now. Unless this pitch absolutely supports seam and swing more than spin, Harbhajan should've been there ahead of VRV. As for the communication, the team management need to learn to stand up for their decisions. They might look stupid that way too, but at least they won't look stupid AND fake.

 

[adharcric]

Sreesanth impressive with the bat. Only Munaf and VRV need to be taken care of now in that regard.

 

[alternative]

On my 1000th post, i am happy to say that Munaf has taken a wicket of Darren Ganga.. Plumb in front..

 

[adharcric]

Come on SS, up the pace boy

 

[roseboy64]

No it wasn't. Giveable but not certain.

 

[roseboy64]

Why is Ian Bradshaw playing Test cricket ahead of a fit Pedro Collins?

Bradshaw bowled well in the ODIs and has surely had more match practice than Collins.

 

[roseboy64]

West Indies will probably want to post a lead of at least 200.

 

[superkingdave]

Chris Gayle is quality to watch

 

[Arjun]

Looking at how Chris Gayle smashed Sreesanth for 14 runs in an over, one may be forgiven for wishing the Indians had such a player. Who wouldn't want a giant six-hitting batsman and more-than-useful stock bowler in a team, when he's unstoppable with the bat? The bowlers were not too bad, they just ran into a tornado of gigantic proportions.